During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, numerous protests have taken place over the government's response. Anti-lockdown protests took place in opposition to restrictions, starting in April 2020 against the first national lockdown, and continuing during subsequent lockdowns and other regional restriction systems. These overlapped with anti-vaccination protests, which continued after the start of the UK's vaccination programme in December 2020. Several media outlets blamed online COVID-19 misinformation, denialism and conspiracy theories as driving factors in the protest movement. The Economist described the protests as "countercultural" and attracting people from a variety of demographics and political leanings. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested for violating lockdown r